Cheap 4K TV as monitor

[lesthegrngo]

Hi All, not sure if this is the correct place for this, but it does broadly fall under the category of PC hardware!

Right now with my A-10 flight rig I am using a small 2560 x 1440 monitor as the main screen, which doesn't do the rest of the rig justice. All around here are loads of supermarkets selling a wide range of cheap 4K tv in a wide variety of sizes (and prices of course). Brands available are TCL, Hisense, Oscar, Sony, Toshiba, LG, Skyworth, Panasonic plus a few others. I want to know whether any of these would be worth using as a monitor

It seems that if you want 120hz refresh, it'55 inch and above, below that 60. I have to say I was thinking 50 inch would be the biggest I would use, so clearly that limits the refresh rate. It seems that is independent of price, not sure if that is a local thing or if there is a wider reason for it.

I am aware that for games like first person shooters and race sims the monitor response time is a factor that means that they can be laggy but I think that for flight sims it isn't such a big deal? So are these TV's good for use as a dedicated monitor in this usage?

 

Les 

 

[LucShep]

I've used TVs for some fifteen years now as monitors for my PC gaming (flight, racing and mil sims, RTS, and all sorts of RPG and Action games).
Then 1080P (four), and 4K in the last four or five years (went through four of them as well). I've used Sony, LG, Samsung, Toshiba, Philips.
While generally you'll be fine, you need to watch out for some things.

For example, that there are many 4K TVs now with BGR subpixel layout, and this will affect text on screen (blurry and/or aliased text).
While unimportant if it's just for gaming and movies, this may be annoying if it's to be used like a regular monitor with lots of text as common usage.
Try to get one that is RGB subpixel layout.

Next, the default color and brightness settings, which will usually be all over the place, with over-brightness and over-saturation.
Any and all will need for you to calibrate them, for your own needs.
One trick that will work with most, for a starting point, is to use the "movie mode" settings for all things image color/contrast settings related (usually the better image mode), but manually applied on the "game mode", which is the one you'll want to use for PC gaming (for best latency).
Check for good reviews of a TV, you'll probably find they list specific calibrated settings (using professional tools) as recommendations, for you to apply (a good option).

Then there's the size, which can be personal preference.  
I've had 32, 37, 43, 46, 50 and 55 inch panels, flat and curved.  For me, 50 inch is about the perfect size (or 48 if it's an OLED), and what I currently use. 
More seems too big, and less feels somewhat small.  FWIW, my eyes are about one meter (39.4 inches), give or take, away from the screen.

The problem, like you describe, is that the "affordable" ones with 120hz+ VRR panels are hard to find in 50'' size or below.
I've only found two options. And both are from SONY, with 50'' size, 120Hz panel.

• SONY X85J 50'' 120Hz (2021 model)
• SONY X85K 50'' 120Hz (2022 model)

I've only tested the "K" but both are practically the same thing.
Pretty darn good, almost went for it. But at last minute decided it's too expensive (yeah, tag price seems to include the posh "SONY tax"....). 

Other than those, I found only 55'' inch (so, bigger) for affordable(ish) prices, such as:

Hisense U7 line in 55''size with high refresh panel:

• U7H 120Hz (2022 model)
• U7K 144Hz (2023 model)
• E7K 144Hz (2023 model)
• E7N 144Hz (2024 model)

TCL C7 and C8 line in 55'' size with high refresh panel:

• C835K 120hz, (2022 model)
• C741K 144Hz, (2023 model)

There may be other 4K TVs with 120/144Hz VRR panels and affordable prices in Europe that I don't know about, but those seem good options. 
Of course, there's the 48'' OLEDs but those are considerably more expensive....

Lastly, I'd say a deep desk is recommended, or placing the TV on a support (either on wall or with stand type) in front of your desk if it's a short one.
This is, if you're not using a cockpit sim-rig already prepared for it (most these days can be prepared to fit big screens).

Edited August 2, 2024 by LucShep

[lesthegrngo]

Thanks - I'm in Qatar so maybe some of those options are not available, but very good info nonetheless. As stated, here anything below 55 Inch is 60hz, not sure if I would notice it though

This is my rig, you'll have to look at the pictures on Page 3 as apparently I don't have enough space left to post the picture direct 

One other point I forgot to mention was that for preference it would use one central stand rather than two separate feet which seems to be very common these days. The part of the rig that the TV would sit on behind the main panel is 45cm wide, although potentially I could make a larger top for the part where it would sit. I don't believe that the TV's weigh much these days. Distance from eye to screen would be approx 1 meter although I can move it forward by 10cm or back by 30cm, so that does give me flexibility. As you state, it sounds like 45 to 50 inch is the sweet spot in terms of size.

Cheers

Les

[LucShep]

8 hours ago, lesthegrngo said:

Thanks - I'm in Qatar so maybe some of those options are not available, but very good info nonetheless. As stated, here anything below 55 Inch is 60hz, not sure if I would notice it though

If it's only for DCS, then 4K 60Hz will be ok. 
But if it's "multi use", then I'd recommend spending for the higher refresh rate, it makes more difference in racing-sims and regular desktop use than you think (not so much with flight sims). 

I decided to spend the least possible (went 4K 60Hz again) and I now kind of regret not spending more for the SONY X85J/K 50''.
Would probably go 55'' if no other choice, and just sit a little further away from it (one gets used to it anyway). 
 
Don't forget, higher refresh rate doesn't mean it always requires high FPS usage in games.
You can always lock framerate with software (Riva Tuner, etc) and use VRR (Freesync or Gsync, depending on model), or change refresh-rate if desired. 

8 hours ago, lesthegrngo said:

One other point I forgot to mention was that for preference it would use one central stand rather than two separate feet which seems to be very common these days. The part of the rig that the TV would sit on behind the main panel is 45cm wide, although potentially I could make a larger top for the part where it would sit. I don't believe that the TV's weigh much these days. Distance from eye to screen would be approx 1 meter although I can move it forward by 10cm or back by 30cm, so that does give me flexibility. As you state, it sounds like 45 to 50 inch is the sweet spot in terms of size.

Depending on model and size, ~9Kg for 43'', ~12Kg for 50'', ~16Kg for 55''. 

I now got a deeper desk, close to the wall with the monitor on top.
But before that I was using this stand for the 46'', 50'' and 55''. Does the job really well, solid and plenty vertical adjustment.
Recommend something like that if your idea requires it.

https://www.amazon.es/dp/B087F8S5C2?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Edited August 2, 2024 by LucShep

[lesthegrngo]

I found an LG 43inch monitor going cheap at a local place(model number 43UR78), with a 4K screen. It was so cheap that I thought I would give it a go. The same place also had a little stand, again cheap.

I am thoroughly glad I did! It is very very good, if the framerate (It is limited to 60hz) or latency / response time is supposed to be problematic, I can't see any issues compared to the Benq monitor it replaced, but the size of the screen and the resolution, plus the picture quality is exactly as I hoped

I spent a good few hours reconfiguring the monitorsetup.lua file to get all the exported views bac to their correct positions, but now that's done I am really pleased I took the plunge. I would definitely recommend this

Les  

[LucShep]

Nice one.  
Yeah, so long as you don't mind the 60Hz limitation, the LG UR and UT 7000/8000 are among the affordable and decent 4K TVs that can be used for such purpose (flight sims).

I'm pretty sure you imediately understood why the picture size (both vertical and horizontal) provided by a 16:9 big screen makes all the sense, for flight-simming purposes.
It's just the way everything becomes much more "real" scale wise. 

There's no way one goes back to a smaller screen after the experience (the very old 22'' I had around really looked like a tablet in comparison!).
At the right (somewhat close) distance and with some headtracking, it's a great alternative to VR (if that's not an option) and far, far easier to run.

Edited August 14, 2024 by LucShep